Tascam Digital Audio Interface Unit IF-AE8 Owners Manual

							 
È 
I F-AE8 
Digital Audio Interface Unit
OWNER’S MANUAL
 
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT
REMOVE  COVER (OR BACK).  NO  USER-SERVICEABLE  PARTS
INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the pres-
ence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature
accompanying  the  appliance. The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert
the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within the product’s enclosure
that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.. 
This appliance has a serial number
located on the rear panel. Please record
the model number and serial number
and retain them for your records.
Model number
Serial number 
†
Ø
Ù 
WARNING: TO PREVENT FIRE OR SHOCK
HAZARD, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS 
APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE. 
D00446000A 
						

							 
2 
  TASCAM IF-AE8 
Important Safety Precautions 
IMPORTANT (for U.K. Customers) 
DO NOT cut off the mains plug from this equipment. 
If the plug fitted is not suitable for the power points in your 
home or the cable is too short to reach a power point, then 
obtain an appropriate safety approved extension lead or 
consult your dealer.
If nonetheless the mains plug is cut of
f, remove the fuse and 
dispose of the plug
 immediately, to avoid a possible shock 
hazard by inadvertent connection to the mains supply.
If this product is not provided with a mains plug, or one has 
to be fitted, then follow the instructions given below:  
IMPORTANT. DO NOT 
 make any connection to the larger 
terminal which is marked with the letter E or by the safety 
earth symbol  
  
 or coloured GREEN or GREEN-and-
YELLOW.
The wires in the mains lead on this product are coloured in 
accordance with the following code: 
BLUE: NEUTRAL
BROWN: LIVE 
As these colours may not correspond with the coloured 
markings identifying the terminals in your plug proceed as 
follows:
The wire which is coloured BLUE must be connected to the 
terminal which is marked with the letter N or coloured 
BLACK.
The wire which is coloured BROWN must be connected to 
the terminal which is marked with the letter L or coloured 
RED.
When replacing the fuse only a correctly rated appro
ved 
type should be used and be sure to re-fit the fuse cover.
IF IN DOUBT — CONSULT A COMPETENT 
ELECTRICIAN.
 
TO THE USER 
This equipment has been tested and found to
comply with the limits for a Class A digital device,
pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These
limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference when the
equipment is operated in a commercial
environment. This equipment generates, uses,
and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if
not installed and used in accordance with the
instruction manual, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications.
Operation of this equipment in a residental area
is likely to cause harmful interference in which
case the user will be required to correct the
interference at his own expense.  
CAUTION  
Changes or modifications to this equipment not
expressly approved by TEAC CORPORATION
for compliance could void the user’s authority to
operate this equipment. 
For the consumers in Europe
WARNING  
This is a Class A product. In a domestic environment, this
product may cause radio interference in which case the user
may be required to take adequate measures.  
Pour les utilisateurs en Europe
AVERTISSEMENT  
Il s’agit d’un produit de Classe A. Dans un environnement
domestique, cet appareil peut provoquer des interférences
radio, dans ce cas l’utilisateur peut être amené à prendre
des mesures appropriées.  
Für Kunden in Europa
Warnung  
Dies is eine Einrichtung, welche die Funk-Entstörung nach
Klasse A besitzt. Diese Einrichtung kann im Wohnbereich
Funkstörungen versursachen ; in diesem Fall kann vom
Betrieber verlang werden, angemessene Maßnahmen
durchzuführen und dafür aufzukommen.
  For U.S.A 
						

							 
  TASCAM IF-AE8  
3  CAUTION:
 
É 
Read all of these Instructions. 
É 
Save these Instructions for later use. 
É 
Follow all Warnings and Instructions marked on the audio
equipment.
1) Read Instructions 
 — All the safety and operating instructions should
be read before the product is operated. 
2) Retain Instructions  
— The safety and operating instructions should
be retained for future reference. 
3) Heed Warnings 
 — All warnings on the product and in the operating
instructions should be adhered to. 
4) Follow Instructions 
 — All operating and use instructions should be
followed. 
5) Cleaning 
 — Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning.
Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for clean-
ing. 
6) Attachments 
 — Do not use attachments not recommended by the
product manufacturer as they may cause hazards. 
7) Water and Moisture 
 — Do not use this product near water — for
example, near a bath tub, wash bowl, kitchen sink, or laundry tub; in a wet
basement; or near a swimming pool; and the like. 
8) Accessories 
 — Do not place this product on an unstable cart, stand,
tripod, bracket, or table. The product may fall, causing serious injury to a
child or adult, and serious damage to the product. Use only with a cart,
stand, tripod, bracket, or table recommended by the manufacturer, or sold
with the product. Any mounting of the product should follow the manufac-
turer’s instructions, and should use a mounting accessory recommended by
the manufacturer. 
9) 
 A product and cart combination should be moved with care. Quick stops,
excessive force, and uneven surfaces may cause the product and cart com-
bination to overturn. 
10) 
  
Ventilation 
 — Slots and openings in the cabinet are provided for ven-
tilation and to ensure reliable operation of the product  and to protect it
from overheating, and these openings must not be blocked or covered. The
openings should never be blocked by placing the product on a bed, sofa,
rug, or other similar surface. This product should not be placed in a built-in
installation such as a bookcase or rack unless proper ventilation is provided
or the manufacturer’s instructions have been adhered to. 
11) Power Sources 
 — This product should be operated only from the
type of power source indicated on the marking label. If you are not sure of
the type of power supply to your home, consult your product dealer or local
power company. For products intended to operate from battery power, or
other sources, refer to the operating instructions. 
12) Grounding or Polarization 
 — This product may be equipped with a
polarized alternating-current line plug (a plug having one blade wider than
the other). This plug will fit into the power outlet only one way. This is a
safety feature. If you are unable to insert the plug fully into the outlet, try
reversing the plug. If the plug should still fail to fit, contact your electrician
to replace your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the
polarized plug. 
13) Power-Cord Protection 
 — Power-supply cords should be routed so
that they are not likely to be walked on or pinched by items placed upon or
against them, paying particular attention to cords at plugs, convenience
receptacles, and the point where they exit from the product. 
14) Outdoor Antenna Grounding 
 — If an outside antenna or cable
system is connected to the product, be  sure the antenna or cable system is
grounded so as to provide some protection against voltage surges and built-
up static charges. Article 810 of the National Electrical Code, ANSI/NFPA
70, provides information with regard to proper grounding of the mast and
supporting structure, grounding of the lead-in wire to an antenna discharge
unit, size of grounding conductors, location of antenna-discharge unit, con-
nection to grounding electrodes, and requirements for the grounding elec-
trode.  Note to CATV system installer:
 
This reminder is provided to call the CATV system installer’s attention to
Section 820-40 of the NEC which provides guidelines for proper grounding
and, in particular, specifies that the cable ground shall be connected to the
grounding system of the building, as close to the point of cable entry as
practical. 
15) Lightning 
 — For added protection for this product during a lightning
storm, or when it is left unattended and unused for long periods of time,
unplug it from the wall outlet and disconnect the antenna or cable system.
This will prevent damage to the product due to lightning and power-line
surges. 
16) Power Lines 
 — An outside antenna system should not be located in
the vicinity of overhead power lines or other electric light or power circuits,
or where it can fall into such power lines or circuits. When installing an
outside antenna system, extreme care should be taken to keep from touch-
ing such power lines or circuits as contact with them might be fatal. 
17) Overloading 
 — Do not overload wall outlets, extension cords, or
integral convenience receptacles as this can result in risk of fire or electric
shock. 
18) Object and Liquid Entry 
 — Never push objects of any kind into
this product through openings as they may touch dangerous voltage points
or short-out parts that could result in a fire or electric shock. Never spill
liquid of any kind on the product. 
19) Servicing 
 — Do not attempt to service this product yourself as open-
ing or removing covers may expose you to dangerous voltage or other
hazards. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. 
20) Damage Requiring Service 
 — Unplug this product from the wall
outlet and refer servicing to qualified service personnel under the following
conditions: 
a) 
when the power-supply cord or plug is damaged. 
b) 
if liquid has been spilled, or objects have fallen into the product. 
c) 
if the product has been exposed to rain or water. 
d) 
if the product does not operate normally by following the operating
instructions. Adjust only those controls that are covered by the operating
instructions as an improper adjustment of other controls may result in
damage and will often require extensive work by a qualified technician to
restore the product to its normal operation. 
e) 
if the product has been dropped or damaged in any way. 
f ) 
when the product exhibits a distinct change in performance – this
indicates a need for service. 
21) Replacement Parts 
 — When replacement  parts are required, be
sure the service technician has used replacement parts specified by the
manufacturer or have the same characteristics as the original part. 
Unauthorized substitutions may result in fire, electric shock, or other
hazards. 
22) Safety Check 
 — Upon completion of any service or repairs to this
product, ask the service technician to perform safety checks to determine
that the product is in proper operating condition. 
23) Wall or Ceiling Mounting 
 — The product should be mounted to a
wall or ceiling only  as recommended by the manufacturer. 
24) Heat  
— The product should be situated away from heat sources such
as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other products (including amplifiers)
that produce heat.
ANTENNA
LEAD IN
WIRE
ANTENNA
DISCHARGE UNIT
(NEC SECTION 810-20)
GROUNDING CONDUCTORS
(NEC SECTION 810-21)
GROUND CLAMPS
POWER SERVICE GROUNDING
ELECTRODE SYSTEM
(NEC ART 250. PART H)
NEC - NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODEELECTRIC
SERVICE
EQUIPMENT
Example of Antenna Grounding as per
National Electrical Code, ANSI/NFPA 70
GROUND
CLAMP
  IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS 
						

							 
4 
  TASCAM IF-AE8 
IF-AE8 Digital Audio Converter 
The TASCAM IF-AE8 provides a convenient way of 
exchanging digital audio data between 
TDIF-1-equipped devices, such as DTRS recorders, 
and AES/EBU  devices.
A single TDIF-1 connector carries eight channels of 
digital input and output. Four XLR-type connectors 
accept four two-channel input signals in AES3-1992 
format, and another four XLR-type connectors out-
put four two-channel input signals in AES3-1992 
format.
The word synchronization is selectable, using a front 
panel switch, from any of the four   
AES/EBU  
 inputs, 
from the TDIF-1 source, or from an external inde-
pendent word clock source.
The word clock source can be used as the clock 
source for sampling frequency conversion. All stan-
dard rates (32 kHz, 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz) are sup-
ported for input and output.If sampling frequency conversion is carried out, the 
IF-AE8 will generate an independent clock signal, 
based on the target frequency, so that other units may 
be synchronized to it.
The signal transmitted from the   
AES/EBU  
 outputs 
can be selected to come from the   
AES/EBU  
 input 
signals or from those received at the TDIF-1 connec-
tor, using a front panel switch. 
Format conversion is possible with up to 24-bit data 
with TDIF digital audio format, and 20-bit with 
AES3-1992 format data if no sample rate conversion 
is performed (20-bit data for both formats if the sam-
pling frequency is converted).
The digital audio output format is selectable as either 
professional or consumer format using a front panel 
switch. 
1 Front panel 
1  
POWER switch and indicator 
Push the   
POWER  
 switch once to turn on power, and 
again to turn it off. The   
POWER  
 indicator lights 
when power is supplied to the IF-AE8. 
2  
LOCKED indicator 
When a valid clock signal is received at the selected 
clock source, this indicator will light. 
3 
CLOCK switch and indicators 
This switch allows you to cycle between the six pos-
sible clock sources for the IF-AE8: the  
WORD 
SYNC IN  
A  
 connector, the   
DIGITAL I/O (TDIF-1)   
9 
 connector, or any of the four two-channel 
AES/EBU connectors ( 
DIGITAL I/O (AES/EBU) 
INPUTS (1/2, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8)  
8  
), as shown by the 
indicators to the right of the switch. 
WARNING  
There should usually never be more than one 
word clock signal in a digital audio system. If 
there are not, at worst, damage may occur to 
speakers, amplifiers, etc. as a result of high-frequency noise generated by word clock  
incompatibilities. 
4  
DIGITAL OUT switch and indicators 
This switch allows you to select the source of the 
digital audio signals that are output from the   
DIGITAL I/O (AES/EBU) OUTPUTS (1/2, 3/4, 
5/6, 7/8)   
7  
. The source can either be the signals 
received at the   
AES/EBU  
 inputs   
8  
 (  
DIGITAL IN  
) 
or at the   
TDIF-1  
 connector   
9  
.
If the   
TDIF-1  
 option is selected, the eight channels of 
the TDIF-1 audio are mapped on a “one-to-one” 
basis to the eight   
AES/EBU  
 audio output channels.
If the   
DIGITAL IN  
 option is selected, the input data 
received at the   
AES/EBU  
 ports is passed through to 
the corresponding output ports. However, it may be 
passed through the sample rate conversion before 
reaching the output ports. 
5  
DIGITAL OUT FORMAT switch and 
indicators 
The format of the digital audio output from the   
AES/EBU  
 output connectors   
7  
 may be either pro-
fessional AES3-1992 format (  
PRO  
) or  
						

							 
IF-AE8 Digital Audio Converter 
  TASCAM IF-AE8  
5 
CONSUMER 
 IEC-60958 TYPE II format. The elec-
trical characteristics of the output connectors remain 
the same, regardless of the data format selected. 
6 
Fs RATE CONVERT switch and 
indicators 
This switch provides two settings:  
THRU-1 
 and  
CONVERT 
.
When the switch is set to  
THRU-1 
, the input signals 
(selected using the  
DIGITAL OUT 
  
4 
 switch) will be 
output from the  
AES/EBU 
 output connectors at the 
same frequency.
When the switch is set to  
CONVERT 
, the input sig-
nals will be output at the sampling frequency of the 
clock source selected with the  
CLOCK  
switch  
3 
.
Note that any of the  
DIGITAL I/O (AES/EBU) 
INPUTS (1/2, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8)  
8 
 may be selected as the clock source for the converted signal. The  
DIGITAL I/O (TDIF-1)  
9  
 cannot be used as the 
clock source for conversion, though both it and the  
DIGITAL I/O (AES/EBU) OUTPUTS (1/2, 3/4, 
5/6, 7/8)  
7 
 can be the destination. 
NOTE  
The  
AES/EBU 
 unit which provides this clock 
source may be different from the unit which 
provides either the input or the output signals. 
You must, however, make sure that word  
clock synchronization is correctly carried out. 
2 Rear panel 
7 
DIGITAL I/O (AES/EBU) OUTPUTS 
(1/2, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8) 
These balanced connectors output digital audio data 
in AES3-1992 professional or in consumer format, 
depending on the selection made with the  
DIGITAL 
OUT FORMAT 
 switch  
5 
.
The content of the data depends on the setting of the  
DIGITAL OUT 
 switch  
4 
.
The sampling frequency of the output data depends 
on the setting of the  
Fs RATE CONVERT 
 switch  
6 
, and the currently-selected clock source  
3 
. 
8 
DIGITAL I/O (AES/EBU) INPUTS (1/2, 
3/4, 5/6, 7/8) 
These balanced connectors accept digital audio data 
in AES3-1992  format.
The signal received at any of these connectors may 
be selected as the clock source for the IF-AE8 using 
the  
CLOCK 
 switch  
3 
9 
DIGITAL I/O (TDIF-1) 
Use this connector to connect a suitably-equipped 
TDIF-1 digital audio unit (e.g. a DTRS recorder or a 
TASCAM digital mixing console).The signals received at this connector may be 
selected as the word clock source using the  
CLOCK 
 
switch  
3 
. 
WARNING 
Note that you should always use genuine 
TASCAM cables, or cables which have been 
approved for use with TDIF-1 interfaces by 
TASCAM.
Although these cables appear similar to cer-
tain types of computer cables and use similar 
connectors, the cables themselves are very 
different, and the different electrical character-
istics of the cables can cause damage to the 
equipment connected with the wrong cables.
If the use of cables other than TASCAM 
cables causes or results in damage, the war- 
ranty is voided. 
A 
WORD SYNC IN 
The BNC connector accepts a word clock signal 
from an external source.
It may be selected as the word clock source for the 
IF-AE8 using the  
CLOCK 
 switch  
3 
. 
						

							 
IF-AE8 Digital Audio Converter 
6 
  TASCAM IF-AE8
BWORD SYNC OUT
This BNC connector outputs a word clock based on 
the word clock source selected using the CLOCK 
switch 3.
NOTE
This may or may not be the same as the clock 
received at WORD SYNC IN A and retrans-
mitted through WORD SYNC THRU 
C. How-
ever, it is always the word clock selected 
using the CLOCK switch 3.
CWORD SYNC THRU
This BNC connector echoes the word clock signal 
received at WORD SYNC IN A. It may or may not 
be the same signal as is output at WORD SYNC 
OUT B. It is auto-terminating.
3 Application example
In this example, the original material (from two 
sources) has been mixed to DAT, and has been pro-
duced in both professional and consumer formats, 
and at both 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz sample rates.
The final master data will be recorded and coded on a 
computer-based system, with an AES/EBU interface.
Here, the two DAT recorders are fed through the 
IF-AE8. Since the resulting data will be at 44.1 kHz, 
the DAT playing back the material at 44.1 kHz 
(DAT 1) is selected to act as the clock master.
Since the TDIF-1 I/O is not used here, the DIGITAL 
OUT switch 4 is set to DIGITAL IN.
The word clock is therefore derived from this, and 
used to resample the 48 kHz material from DAT 2, 
and the Fs RATE CONVERT switch 6 is set to 
CONVERT. The mastering system takes its word clock through 
the AES/EBU data from the appropriate DIGITAL 
OUT of the IF-AE8.
The DIGITAL OUT FORMAT switch 5 is set to 
PRO, so that the data coming from DAT 2 is con-
verted to professional format data. 
4 Specifications
IF-AE8
DAT 1
DAT 2
AES/EBU audio in
Mastering
system
44.1 (P)*
48 (C)
44.1(P)
DIGITAL OUTPUTs (1–2, 
3–4, 5–6, 7–8)XLR-type, balanced outputs
DIGITAL OUTPUT output 
formatSwitchable between 
professional (AES3-1992) 
and consumer (IEC-60958 
TYPE II) formats
DIGITAL INPUTS (1–2, 3–4, 
5–6, 7–8)XLR-type
DIGITAL INPUT input format Auto-detect professional 
(AES3-1992) and consumer 
(IEC-60958 TYPE II) formats
D IGITAL I/O (TDIF-1) Conforms to TDIF-1 
specification
Clock source Any of AES/EBU DIGITAL 
INPUTS, TDIF-1, or WORD 
SYNC IN (front panel 
selection)
LOCKED indicator Lights when valid clock 
source received at selected 
input
Valid input Fs rates 48 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 32 kHz
Valid output rates 48 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 32 kHz, 
taken from CLOCK source
Word length Up to 24 bits TDIF-1,(20 bits 
with Fs conversion), 20 bits 
AES3-1992
WORD SYNC IN
75
W
WORD SYNC OUT
75W, reproduces clock 
selected from front panel 
switch
WORD SYNC THRU
75
W (auto terminating), 
echoes clock at WORD 
SYNC IN
Dimensions (w x h x d) 428 x 48 x 194.8 (mm) 
16.9 x 1.9 x 7.7 (in.)
Weight 2.6 kg (5.7 lbs)
Power supply 120V (UL), 230V (Europe, 
Australia)
Power consumption 6 W
Supplied accessories Rack mounting kit 
						

							IF-AE8 Digital Audio Converter
  TASCAM IF-AE8 7
4.1 Dimensional drawing 4.2 Rack mounting
Use the supplied rack mounting kit to install the 
IF-AE8 in a standard 19” rack, as shown below:
4.3 Block diagram
482mm
466mm
44mm 4mm
32mm
194.8mm
181.5mm 10.5mm
CLOCK
FSC
AD1892THRU
Data InEmph In
Data Out4Emph Out
LR CLK In
LR CLK Out22Digital Mixer
or
DTRSFS Code In FS Code Out
IN
THRU
(AUTO TERM)
WORD
PLL
LOCKED
4
TC9271 D OUTD IN
TDIF
Fs  CONVERT
CONVERT
THRU
Data
Fs / Emph
CLK
D IN 7-8
D IN 5-6
D IN 3-4
D IN 1-2
TDIF-1
WORD
OUT
DIGITAL I/O
 
INPUTS
(AES/EBU)DIGITAL I/O
  OUTPUTS
 (AES/EBU)
1-2
3-4
5-6
7-8
1-2
3-4
5-6
7-8
TC9271
DIGITAL I/O
  (TDIF-1)
FSC AD1892
THRU
FSC AD1892
THRU
FSC AD1892
THRU
75
CPU
Digital
Interface
Receiver
Digital
Interface
Receiver
Digital
Interface
Receiver
Digital
Interface
Receiver
Digital
Interface
Transmitter
Digital
Interface
Transmitter
Fs / Emph 
						

							 
TEAC CORPORATION 
  
Phone: (0422) 52-5082 3-7-3, Nakacho, Musashino-shi, Tokyo 180-8550, Japan 
TEAC AMERICA, INC. 
Phone: (323) 726-0303 7733 Telegraph Road, Montebello, California 90640 
TEAC CANADA LTD. 
Phone: 905-890-8008  Facsimile: 905-890-9888 5939 Wallace Street, Mississauga, Ontario L4Z 1Z8, Canada 
TEAC MEXICO, S.A. De C.V 
Phone: 5-658-1943 Privada De Corina, No.18, Colonia Del Carmen Coyoacon, Mexico DF 04100 
TEAC UK LIMITED 
Phone: 01923-819699 5 Marlin House, Marlins Meadow, The Croxley Centre, Watford, Herts. WD1 8YA, U.K. 
TEAC DEUTSCHLAND GmbH 
Phone: 0611-71580 Bahnstrasse 12, 65205 Wiesbaden-Erbenheim, Germany 
TEAC FRANCE S. A. 
Phone: 01.42.37.01.02 17 Rue Alexis-de-Tocqueville, CE 005 92182 Antony Cedex, France 
TEAC BELGIUM NV/SA 
Phone: 0031-30-6048115 P.A. TEAC Nederland BV, Perkinsbaan 11a, 3439 ND Nieuwegein, Netherlands 
TEAC NEDERLAND BV 
Phone: 030-6030229 Perkinsbaan 11a, 3439 ND Nieuwegein, Netherlands 
TEAC AUSTRALIA PTY.,LTD. A.C.N. 005 408 462  
Phone: (03) 9644-2442 106 Bay Street, Port Melbourne, Victoria 3207, Australia 
TEAC ITALIANA S.p.A. 
Phone: 02-66010500 Via C. Cantù 11, 20092 Cinisello Balsamo, Milano, Italy 
PRINTED IN JAPAN 0199U0.7  M-1479A 
È 
I F-AE8